Caption: Artist Emigdio Vasquez is seen through an art piece, "Califas Corazon" by Gilbert "Magu" Lujan, at the "Detras de las
Cortinas" exhibit, which held its opening reception at Grand Central
Art Center on Sept. 4. The exhibit runs through Oct. 17. Photos by KAREN TAPIA

Curtains Rise on OC Chicano Art

‘Detras de Las Cortinas’ Showcases Works by Local Latino Artists at CSUF's Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana Through Oct. 17

Caption: Anna Brittell looks closely at "Limoztlan" by Gilbert "Magu" Lujan, which is part of "Detras de Las Cortinas."

“The first ‘curtain’ that comes to mind is the Orange Curtain,” said Mike McGee, professor of art, director of Cal State Fullerton's Begovich Gallery and founder of the Grand Central Art Center, who curated the exhibit with Dennis Cubbage, the center’s director. “This is a derogatory term, most often used sardonically by Los Angelinos. For the most snobbish, ‘behind the Orange Curtain’ connotes a dismissal image of Orange County as a cultural wasteland, void of esthetic sophistication and appreciation for anything that is not bland.”

Another metaphoric curtain that the show addresses, McGee said, “is the kind of cultural fog that keeps some people from seeing other people — even when they look directly at them.”

Emigdio Vasquez, who has about a dozen pieces on display, said his art reflects a sort of documentary of Chicanos in Orange County over the last few decades.

“Art should not just be decoration,” he said during the exhibit’s opening night Sept. 4. “It’s a statement about life. My art talks about my environment, my experiences.”

Added Moya: "This exhibit shows that there is a lot of culture behind the Orange Curtain. It's not just Disneyland. We have good cultural roots here."

The exhibit "says to me that the presence of the Chicana and Chicano has always been in Orange County and so has the story of struggle," CSUF student Anna Diaz Villela said. "This exhibit is a great manifestation of the countless themes of the Chicana and Chicano art movement that began in the 1960s and continues to this day. Hopefully, this exhibit will educate and inspire future generations of Chicanas and Chicanos who wish to express themselves, their community, and their ideas through the medium of art. The pieces reflected all the themes that are close to the heart of every Chicana and Chicano: familia, love, passion, happiness, history, culture, community and sense of self."

Featured Artist

Emigdio Vasquez

Residence: Orange

CSUF Degrees: B.A. in art, 1978; M.A. in art, 1979

Background: Vasquez is an muralist and painter, known internationally for his work in the photo-realistic style. He made his own comic books as a child, basing them on stories his father told him about the Mexican Revolution. He began oil painting in the late 1950s and murals in the 1960s. His works can be seen on walls and buildings throughout Orange County. His body of work documents and comments on the daily life of working people in the barrio, capturing the urban experience.

Pullquote

Art should not just be decoration. It’s a statement about life. My art talks about
my environment, my experiences.